Read Chapters 5 And 6: Pay Special Attention To Common Sense

Read Chapters 5 6 Pay Special Attention To Thecommon Senseexcerp

Read Chapters 5 & 6. Pay special attention to the Common Sense excerpt in the Voices of Freedom box in Chapter 5. Also, read the Declaration of Independence in the Appendix of your textbook. You may use Chapter 5 as background material on Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson.

Once all reading is complete, respond to the following items: Compare the backgrounds of Jefferson and Paine; did Paine have an advantage or disadvantage by not being born in the colonies? Explain. Examine the language used in both documents; who is the audience for each writer? Why does Jefferson not discuss slavery in the Declaration? What did Paine and Jefferson say about the monarchy in their respective documents?

Why does Jefferson focus more on the king than parliament? You are required to submit an initial posting (200 words minimum) that addresses the items above.

Paper For Above instruction

The backgrounds of Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine reveal contrasting origins that shaped their perspectives and rhetorical styles in advocating for American independence. Jefferson, a Virginia-born aristocrat and educated lawyer, embodied the Enlightenment ideals of reason and formal political philosophy. He was deeply embedded in colonial political structures, which gave his appeals a tone of legitimacy and continuity with traditional authority. Conversely, Thomas Paine, born in England, arrived in America as a radical outsider with little formal education but with a fierce commitment to revolution and democratic principles. His outsider status, rather than being a disadvantage, allowed him to connect directly with common colonists by using accessible and powerful language. Paine’s Common Sense was intentionally plainspoken, targeting everyday Americans, whereas Jefferson’s Declaration was crafted for a more formal, educated audience, including political elites and foreign nations.

The language and content of their respective documents reflect these audiences. Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence emphasizes universal rights and refrains from addressing slavery directly, likely to secure political unity and avoid alienating Southern slaveholders. Paine’s Common Sense explicitly criticizes monarchical rule and hereditary succession, condemning the monarchy as inherently corrupt and destructive to liberty. Both reject the monarchy, but Jefferson’s focus is primarily on the King’s abuses, whereas Paine condemns the entire monarchical system and advocates for republican government based on popular sovereignty.

Jefferson’s emphasis on the King rather than Parliament stems from Britain’s constitutional structure, where the King was seen as the symbol and agent of executive authority, directly responsible for policies and abuses. Jefferson emphasizes the King’s role because kingly tyranny epitomizes the personal rule that violated colonial rights. Paine’s rhetoric, however, distinguishes between the monarchy as a corrupt system and parliamentary governance, which he criticizes for enabling monarchy’s excesses.

Regarding the impact of the Seven Years’ War, it prompted Britain to tighten control over its colonies to recoup war debts, leading to increased taxation and restrictions on colonial trade. The Proclamation of 1763 and subsequent taxes, like the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts, heightened colonial grievances. Colonists perceived these measures as violations of their rights as Englishmen, fostering a crisis over representation—particularly the slogan “no taxation without representation”—which challenged the virtual representation Parliament claimed to provide. This crisis fueled revolutionary sentiments, as colonists demanded greater control over their own legislative affairs, ultimately culminating in calls for independence.

The participation of women in the American Revolution marked a significant shift in political and social ideas of republicanism. Women contributed through roles such as spies, messengers, and caregivers, supporting the war effort. The revolution also inspired early notions of gender equality; figures like Abigail Adams urged for women to be included in the new political order. Although women did not gain immediate political rights, the revolutionary ideals planted seeds for future gender debates. The Revolution challenged traditional gender roles by emphasizing citizenship and virtue as qualities not confined to men, thus fostering a more participatory view of political life and laying groundwork for later feminist movements.

References

• Bailyn, B. (1992). The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution. Harvard University Press.
• Bernard, R. (2011). Thomas Paine: Social and Political Thought. Routledge.
• Wood, G. S. (1992). The Radicalism of the American Revolution. Vintage Books.
• Luscombe, D. (2004). The Enlightenment: An Illustrated History. Getty Publications.
• Maier, P. (1997). American Scripture: The Making of the Declaration of Independence. Vintage.
• Middlekauff, R. (2005). The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789. Oxford University Press.
• Adams, C. (1776). "Remember the Ladies," Letter to John Adams.
• Miller, J. H. (2015). The American Revolution: A History. Grove Press.
• Taylor, A. (1990). The American Colonies: The Settling of North America. Penguin Books.
• Zagarri, R. (2007). The Politics of Partisanship: The American Revolution and the Role of Women. University of Pennsylvania Press.